Meade Launches a New Offensive

Saturday, November 7, 1863

Under pressure from President Abraham Lincoln to pursue Confederate General Robert E. Lee Army of the Potomac commander George Meade planned a new offensive movement to strike the Confederates near Brandy Station. Early this morning the Army of the Potomac began a march to cross the Rappahannock River, with the Second Corps crossing at Kelly's Ford. General Robert E. Lee, however, declined to meet Meade near Brandy Station, and withdrew to a position on the south side of the Rapidan River. General Meade decided to relocate the Army of the Potomac for winter quarters positioned between the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers near Stevensburg.¹

References:
¹Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 304-5.

Night March to Fayettesville

Monday, October 12, 1863

In response to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's advance across the Rappahannock River Union General George Meade ordered the Second Corps, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts was a part, across the Rappahannock River again in a grueling night march to Fayettesville. The men were exhausted and hungry, as their rations had been depleted.¹

References:
¹Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 293.

Dangerous Retreat from Culpeper

Sunday, October 11, 1863

The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment had been deployed near Culpeper since October 5, and at 3:00 this morning had received orders from General Meade to fall back to the Rappahannock River. The retreat proved to be a dangerous one, as the men stumbled in the darkness, falling into ditches soaked with mud and water from recent rains. In order to find their way they lit torches and bonfires which erupted into spontaneous flames in the woods. They eventually found their way back to rejoin the Second Corps near Bealton Station, enduring a treacherous forced march covering eighteen miles in thirteen hours.¹

References:
¹Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 292.

Front Lines along the Rappahannock River

Saturday, October 10, 1863

The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment remained encamped along the Rappahannock River since the end of July, and during this time events had been quiet, but not so in Tennessee. On September 19 and 20 Union General William Rosecrans and Confederate General Braxton Bragg clashed at Chickamauga, Tennessee, resulting in a decisive Confederate victory. As a result the Twentieth Massachusetts was deployed south of the Rappahannock along the Rapidan River from September 18. Today Union General Meade ordered the Twentieth Massachusetts to fall back to the Rappahannock River.¹

References:
¹Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 291-92.

Camp on the Rappahannock River

Thursday, July 31, 1863

Continuing their southward march the Twentieth Massachusetts departed from Germantown on Tuesday and arrived at the Rappahannock River this afternoon, making camp along the north bank of the river in close proximity to the position held during the Fredericksburg Campaign.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 302.